Ride (2024)

Ride (2024). 1h 48m | R

“Greetings again from the darkness. Historically, weu0026#39;ve been treated to Western movies that were heavy on tense gunfights and macho morality … white hats vs black hats. However, if youu0026#39;ve been paying attention these past few years, youu0026#39;ve likely noticed a shift in tone. Westerns have become more attuned to the sensibilities of real people, and less enamored with quick-draws. This may be the directorial debut of writer-director Jake Allyn, but itu0026#39;s not his first rodeo (couldnu0026#39;t resist). Allyn wrote the screenplay and starred in NO MANu0026#39;S LAND (2020), which was directed by his brother Conor. For this film, he co-wrote the screenplay with Josh Plasse, his co-star in u0026quot;The Baxtersu0026quot;. Both men also play brothers here.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA grizzled C Thomas Howell (contrasted with his fresh-faced Ponyboy in THE OUTSIDERS, 1983) stars as John Hawkins, a former rodeo star, who walked away from his career when his wife Monica (Annabeth Gish, MYSTIC PIZZA, 1988), now the local Sheriff, birthed the first of their three kids. Son Noah (co-writer Plasse) is a clean-cut, straight arrow young man who has steered away from the bull riding tradition set by his father, his grandfather Al (Forrie J Smith, u0026quot;Yellowstoneu0026quot;), and his brother Peter (director Allyn). Early on, we see Peter, now the black sheep of the family, being released after a four-year prison sentence. Most of the urgent attention is paid to eleven-year-old Virginia (Zia Carlock), whose cancer can only be treated at a specialty oncology center. This life-saving treatment comes with a $160,000 price tag and a financial and emotional burden on her father John that may be more than he can handle.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOne of the first things to notice about this is how beautifully itu0026#39;s filmed by cinematographer Keith J Leman. The rodeo scenes are particularly striking as nothing is overdone or over-dramatized. John and Peter struggle to re-connect, but itu0026#39;s Virginiau0026#39;s treatment that helps the two stubborn men find common ground. Either would do whatever necessary to save her. For John, this means begging the bank for another loan, selling off his beloved horses, and finally coming to grips with the need to break the moral code by which he has always lived his life. Peteru0026#39;s drug habit provides an opportunity, and of course, things donu0026#39;t go according to plan. Soon, Sheriff Monica is working a case that may force her into her own moral choice between family and the law. Simultaneously, Deputy Dickons (Scott Reeves), who is clearly a bit too close to his boss, is eager to bring down John and Peter.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAll of this takes place in Stephenville, Texas, known as the Cowboy Capitol of the world (although itu0026#39;s filmed in Tennessee). The u0026#39;8 secondsu0026#39; on a bull ride are stressed a few times, yet mostly what we have is a serious family drama filled with guilt and desperation. On the downside, the script doesnu0026#39;t quite meet the standard of the tone or acting. Some polishing could have elevated the entire film, and a bit less eyeliner on Allyn and reduced lipstick on young Carlock would have helped. Still, C Thomas Howell and Forrie J Smith are particularly excellent in their roles. The film makes an obvious statement on the health care and insurance industries, and the oft-repeated line, u0026quot;Iu0026#39;m praying for youu0026quot; is meant to sound as hollow as the sentiment can sometimes come across. This is a world filmmaker and actor Allyn feels comfortable with, and he does a pretty nice job with it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn select theaters and ON DEMAND beginning June 14, 2024.”